Tonight the Miners continue a five-game series versus the Anchorage Glacier Pilots. The Miners enter playing their best baseball of 2011, having pitched three shutouts over the last six games. On the other side, the Pilots enter completely reeling, and have lost all seven games they have played in the ABL this season.
The Pilots struggles really begin offensively. Over the last two night, the team has only allowed six runs. However, the Pilots haven't had an RBI during those two games, and have only scored one run. It came last night when Brady Hohl stole home. The teams offensive numbers are just brutal to this point. As a team, the Pilots enter tonight hitting .221. The Pilots must change all of this soon, or they will be left playing out the string in July.
For the Miners, it is important in a short season like this to not only defend home field, but beat the teams behind you in the standings. It's crazy to think, but the ABL season is a sixth a of the way in the books. A quick start early tonight by the Miners will certainly challenge the resolve of the Pilots. Mentally can they play from behind yet again tonight? The Miners must find out tonight.
Offensively the Miners have improved a great deal over the last week, pounding out at least ten hits in each of the last three games. Stephen Branca (Jr./Tennessee Wesleyan), Cam Kneeland (Jr./Mass.-Lowell) and Jaycob Brugman (Fr./BYU) are all hitting the baseball well for the Miners right now in the middle of the order. The story however, has been the pitching staff. Again Steven Bruce (Fr./Oklahoma) was terrific on Tuesday night. He's gone now 18 1/3 innings without allowing a run this season. The bullpen though has also been impressive. Neal Dennison (So./Georgetown) came in during a difficult part of the game Tuesday. He was called on to face Pilots clean-up hitter Aaron Judge, with runners on the corners and one out. With one pitch, Dennison was able to get the 6'7'' righty to bounce into a double play to end the threat.
Tonight the Miners will hand the ball to Bluefield lefty David Gibson (1-0, 3.48 era). The Junior pitcher has battled through control issues early this season. In 10 1/3 innings he has allowed 7 walks, and struck out 11. Gibson pitched last Wednesday vs. AIA, where he picked up a rain-shortened five-inning complete game win.
Tonight's Game: Miners (5-1 in ABL) vs. Pilots (0-7 in ABL)
First Pitch: 7:00pm from Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer. It's Mat Valley Federal Credit Union day at the ballpark.
Media: Matt Dudas and Michael Broskowski have the call beginning with the Mat-Su Miners Pre-Game Show at 6:50pm. The game can be heard locally on Q99.7 and on the web at www.matsuminers.org.
Pre-Game Guest: Matt Dudas will catch up with first baseman Cam Kneeland.
Tomorrow: The Miners meet the Pilots again at 7:00pm at Hermon Brothers Field.
No comments:
Post a Comment